Good News if You Can Get It
I don't know enough about the Middle East to add anything meaningful to the discussion, but I do know that Israel's heavily subsidized settlements in Palestinian territory are a horrible idea. I don't think they make sense on a purely pragmatic level, and I think they often trample on the rights of the Palestinians. Even strongly pro-Israel Americans, like myself, should be glad that Sharon is dismantling some of the settlements.
The way it's playing out is unfortunate, of course. According to the New York Times, American philanthropists donated $14 million to compensate Israeli settlers for their greenhouses, but many Israelis have already sabotaged them. Now Israeli settlers are resisting evacuation. The Israeli army is expected to go door to door to force everyone out.
Still, I think there is a potential upside to all this mess. First, Israel is doing the right thing in a highly visible way. If Palestinians have access to reliable media, they will see the state of Israel forcing Jews out of the settlements at gunpoint. The image is reminiscent of the 101st Airborne troops who protected the black students at Central High School in 1957 (I remember one picture of a soldier moving a white girl along at bayonet point). This alone won't convince Palestinians that the Israeli army is a force for good, but it might help them see shades of grey. If they understand that there are friendly Jews and hostile Jews, they might be able to make common cause with leftist Israelis and pursue their cause through the political process.
Second, Hamas has announced that it won't attack Israelis in Gaza during the withdrawal. Hamas is reprehensible, and the move is probably cynical, but it might pave the way for further promises of peace. Conceivably both sides can see the benefits of a peaceful withdrawal from most or all of the settlements, which will leave Palestinians with far fewer grievances and Israel with more security.
All of this is predicated on Israelis and Palestinians getting an accurate picture of what is going on (I'm assuming that our picture is accurate, which is perhaps unwise). If the Palestinians don't have access to non-propaganda media, they might not realize the sacrifices Israelis are making to remove the settlements. Dismantling the settlements is a good idea no matter what, but it will be especially productive if Palestinians get the news.
UPDATE: Settlers are shouting the slogan "A Jew does not expel a Jew!" As painful as it is, this is exactly what Palestinians need to see, Jews expelling Jews. It dispels the notion that Israel is a monolithic entity always protecting Jewish interests at the expense of Palestinians. Actually, it might work the other way too: it might be hard for the Palestinians not to empathize with people being turned out of their homes by the Israeli army.
UPDATE AGAIN: I should read the entire article before updating. Some settlers (and sympathizers who have entered the settlements illegally) are being complete thugs. Someone threw ammonia into the face of a police photographer. I can't help thinking this kind of extremism will turn the Israeli public against the settlers. The article is a useful reminder that there are violent fundamentalists on both sides.
FINAL UPDATE: Just fixed a spelling error.
The way it's playing out is unfortunate, of course. According to the New York Times, American philanthropists donated $14 million to compensate Israeli settlers for their greenhouses, but many Israelis have already sabotaged them. Now Israeli settlers are resisting evacuation. The Israeli army is expected to go door to door to force everyone out.
Still, I think there is a potential upside to all this mess. First, Israel is doing the right thing in a highly visible way. If Palestinians have access to reliable media, they will see the state of Israel forcing Jews out of the settlements at gunpoint. The image is reminiscent of the 101st Airborne troops who protected the black students at Central High School in 1957 (I remember one picture of a soldier moving a white girl along at bayonet point). This alone won't convince Palestinians that the Israeli army is a force for good, but it might help them see shades of grey. If they understand that there are friendly Jews and hostile Jews, they might be able to make common cause with leftist Israelis and pursue their cause through the political process.
Second, Hamas has announced that it won't attack Israelis in Gaza during the withdrawal. Hamas is reprehensible, and the move is probably cynical, but it might pave the way for further promises of peace. Conceivably both sides can see the benefits of a peaceful withdrawal from most or all of the settlements, which will leave Palestinians with far fewer grievances and Israel with more security.
All of this is predicated on Israelis and Palestinians getting an accurate picture of what is going on (I'm assuming that our picture is accurate, which is perhaps unwise). If the Palestinians don't have access to non-propaganda media, they might not realize the sacrifices Israelis are making to remove the settlements. Dismantling the settlements is a good idea no matter what, but it will be especially productive if Palestinians get the news.
UPDATE: Settlers are shouting the slogan "A Jew does not expel a Jew!" As painful as it is, this is exactly what Palestinians need to see, Jews expelling Jews. It dispels the notion that Israel is a monolithic entity always protecting Jewish interests at the expense of Palestinians. Actually, it might work the other way too: it might be hard for the Palestinians not to empathize with people being turned out of their homes by the Israeli army.
UPDATE AGAIN: I should read the entire article before updating. Some settlers (and sympathizers who have entered the settlements illegally) are being complete thugs. Someone threw ammonia into the face of a police photographer. I can't help thinking this kind of extremism will turn the Israeli public against the settlers. The article is a useful reminder that there are violent fundamentalists on both sides.
FINAL UPDATE: Just fixed a spelling error.
posted by James | 8:33 AM
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